L.A. mayor, California governor criticized over fires as political clash ensues

10/1/2025 16:45

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass came under sharp criticism for her response to a series of raging wildfires on Thursday, while President-elect Donald Trump sought to blame California Governor Gavin Newsom for the deadly disaster.



The criticism has triggered a political clash over the two massive wildfires menacing Los Angeles from the east and west. At least five people have died in what has developed into one of the biggest natural disasters in California's history.



The mayor, who was on an official trip to Ghana when the fires broke out on Tuesday, faced questions about her initial absence, given that the National Weather Service of Los Angeles began warning about "extreme fire weather conditions" last week.



Bass has sought to deflect criticism of her leadership and on Thursday did not answer questions from reporters about her decision to leave the country this week.



"My number one focus, and I think the focus of all of us here with one voice, is that we have to protect lives, we have to save lives and we have to save homes," Bass said at Thursday's briefing. "Rest assured that ...when that is done, when we are safe, when lives have been saved and homes have been saved, we will absolutely do an evaluation to look at what worked, (and) what didn't work."